Would YOU?

[MechanicalMouse]

Canada has HALF the population of Great Britain, and forty-EIGHT times the land....

And oil, gem stones and wolves. Given my personal preference for a cooler climate, I suggest we invade Canada.

The ease of invasion would al be dependent on which lineage is stronger, the French or English....
My apologises to the French.

I hadn't realised the American population was that big.

[greensteam]

Nae wonder half the scots have ancestors/family in canada. Its certainly where i would go if i had any employable skills.

[19th Century Space Pilot]

Any idea as to overall village design? Personally I think it should be surrounded with about 10 meters of trees, enclosing an area that is mainly farming land, with the 'village' in one corner. The village would then be divided into sectors...

[Steαм◦¢hicк]

Any idea as to overall village design? Personally I think it should be surrounded with about 10 meters of trees, enclosing an area that is mainly farming land, with the 'village' in one corner. The village would then be divided into sectors...

I like the sound of that

And I'm seeing how some people are dropping completely the idea of modern technology: computers etc, but the point isn't to go back in time, to a point where it is uncomfortable - I personally would not exclude:
pluming
computers
electricity
maybe air/heating?
- all the essentials, just done in a more "steampunk way." 

A town covered in brass and Victorian style technologies doesn't mean "no bathing" or for any kind of rights to be diminished. Parts sounded a little "cult-ish" or like a "reenactment town"  .. not exactly what I was thinking, but it's nice to get a lot of discussion on the topic

[Theosophus Grey]

- all the essentials, just done in a more "steampunk way." 

Agreed; Victoriana notwithstanding, the idea should be to enthusiastically follow the technological thread down the steam rather than electric path, not to abandon the social and physical improvements made naturally along the way for the sake of "historical accuracy".  Your computer is a mechanical difference engine, your lights are gaslit, you travel by train and dirigible, and you live at a slower pace because everything requires the human touch - from the food you grow locally to eat seasonally, to the cordwood that is cut and dried for the evening fire.  I envision a truly self-sufficient village, peopled by glasers and gardeners, carters and corkers, lampblacks and locksmiths, all contributing their skills to the greater good while passing along a better way of life that's almost been forgotten - perhaps the reason we're attracted to SP in the first place? 

As to design, a traditional four-farthings compass layout works well - concentric circles like the layers of an onion, cut by two major perpendicular roads meeting at the town green and public buildings in the center, each layer outward becoming more bluecollar until emptying into farmlands and outposts.  A canal redirecting a local river through town would supply water and power at it's entrance, and storm drainage at its exit, with transportation in between (sewage having been carefully segregated, of course).  Power, water and gas would be run underground along the roadways, in easily accessible concrete tunnels - nothing buried, no need to excavate for leaks.  Construction would of wood and stone, designed to last and not collapse like a house of cards at the first flood or hurricane, and stacked facing the main ways in quadrangles with a shared courtyard at the center for light, air, and safe play away from traffic.  A magnificent iron and glass train station would connect us with the outside world, both for travel and trade, perhaps located across a square for the equally magnificent limestone library and museum. 

Musicians would work the streets and cafes, strong coffee would be scented on every corner, and fresh beer would be brewed onsite in copper kettles.  The streets would clean and well-lit, encouraging all to walk the parks and gardens late into the evening in summertime, and the book-vendors would never close. 

[19th Century Space Pilot]

May I point out that the Victorians did have Plumbing, Electricity, and Heating? In the case of electricity, the Victorian age is what gave us it. The other two go back to at least the Greeks.

I prefer a design for the 'village' which gives us quarters. So you'd have a core (center), the farms (another quarter, although it extends around the entire perimeter), a woodloand part, a docks (by the river - where slse 0 although it could also keep the airships) and an artisan quater.

Scratch that. Woodland surrounding, then fields, then the settlement proper, which has a core, docks, business quarter, inventors quarter...

[Dr. Oliver Cross]

I'm thinking that, at this point, the British and American plans should diverge, at least in their threads.  We've effectively got two separate conversations going here, one for each side of the Atlantic, and that, in my mind, suggests two threads.  What say you?

[Isabella Stormrift]

I'm thinking that, at this point, the British and American plans should diverge, at least in their threads.  We've effectively got two separate conversations going here, one for each side of the Atlantic, and that, in my mind, suggests two threads.  What say you?

We do seem to be at a natural diverging point.

[MechanicalMouse]

I have created the
The British Steampunk Settlement thread - "Would You" Divergence
thread
http://brassgoggles.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,18985.0.html

I'll still pop in here to see how you guys are going on.

[Isabella Stormrift]

I think it's important at this point that we see who, other than myself and Dr. Oliver are genuinely interested in seeing this to fruition. Please, chime in, would you?

[19th Century Space Pilot]

I would be... unfortunately, I'm not at the 'age of majority' yet (I'm 16 next May), so my legal abilities are curtailed.

[Elliot_Pending]

I think it's important at this point that we see who, other than myself and Dr. Oliver are genuinely interested in seeing this to fruition. Please, chime in, would you?

Well, I am quite interested, but the circumstances of my life right now would make it quite impossible for me to commit to any such project.
Sorry.

[Vancouver Air Privateer]

Hmm. I'd love to see it come to reality but I'm busy with college... if it evolves to the point where certain goals are laid out I'd be glad to try and help and donate what little money I can.

[Ersatz Genius]

As fascinating as it is, and how much I would love to participate in such a thing, I also would be unable to commit to it at present. Life is complicated as of right now.

[Isabella Stormrift]

Hmm. I'd love to see it come to reality but I'm busy with college... if it evolves to the point where certain goals are laid out I'd be glad to try and help and donate what little money I can.

Well, I'm just about to start at a university in January myself (if all goes well). That doesn't mean I'm going to let it stop me from working toward this!

[Dr. Oliver Cross]

Hmm. I'd love to see it come to reality but I'm busy with college... if it evolves to the point where certain goals are laid out I'd be glad to try and help and donate what little money I can.

Well, I'm just about to start at a university in January myself (if all goes well). That doesn't mean I'm going to let it stop me from working toward this!

I'm also intending to work on this, despite having a rather full plate myself.

[heavyporker]

I've got to admit that, aside from already loving the idea of living in a Steampunk village, the ideas I had for the Mad Scientist Inn have taken ahold of me and I can't quite stop thinking about how I would do it. Apologies to these that wanted to do hotels of their own.

 Aside from limited funds, I have the fancy notion of thinking I can learn quickly what needs doing.


 Perhaps we should sit down and look up references of how-tos for this sort of thing so that at least we have in one place the information needed for villager-aspirants to learn the basic skills of what they may need to know BEFORE they come. The Foxfire series of books come to mind. Perhaps the author/editiors have been so kind as to create e-book versions of that? Certainly in other threads there are links to Victorian-era reference books.

[Dorian Ambrose]

I would gladly trade all my worldly possessions for a chance to live the remainder of my days in such a place.

[greensteam]

Ah, Dorian, now that suggests a whole new thread to me:

Retirement home with workshops for steampunkers needing just a wee bit of help with some things in their lives.  All the experts say there is nothing like keeping busy for keeping alzheimers at bay, so this should be perfect. Once a week the local primary school children can come in and do intergenerational tinkering.

[Dorian Ambrose]

Ah, Dorian, now that suggests a whole new thread to me:

Retirement home with workshops for steampunkers needing just a wee bit of help with some things in their lives.  All the experts say there is nothing like keeping busy for keeping alzheimers at bay, so this should be perfect. Once a week the local primary school children can come in and do intergenerational tinkering.

That do sound like a plan worth considering.
However, I sincerely hope that I have a few more years ahead of me, before the cold, clammy hand of old age taps me on the shoulder.

I am only 27 years old, after all. 

[Isabella Stormrift]

I've got to admit that, aside from already loving the idea of living in a Steampunk village, the ideas I had for the Mad Scientist Inn have taken ahold of me and I can't quite stop thinking about how I would do it. Apologies to these that wanted to do hotels of their own.

 Aside from limited funds, I have the fancy notion of thinking I can learn quickly what needs doing.


 Perhaps we should sit down and look up references of how-tos for this sort of thing so that at least we have in one place the information needed for villager-aspirants to learn the basic skills of what they may need to know BEFORE they come. The Foxfire series of books come to mind. Perhaps the author/editiors have been so kind as to create e-book versions of that? Certainly in other threads there are links to Victorian-era reference books.

I certainly don't think that would conflict with my frilly Victoriana B&B, though I could also wind up as the village seamstress if we don't get someone else after the position.

I do think this is the next step, once we've figured out who will be involved. Once we've had people 'call dibs' on various positions, we'll need to get training in those skills, etc (assuming it's not something you've already got experience in) as well as general knowledge of the community dynamic, etc.

[Dr. Oliver Cross]

Now the odd thing falls here in that my speciality is not in creating anything, I fear, (although I'm a fair hand at case mods for various things, or so I'm told), but rather in public relations.  I've been a tour guide for several years, though granted that is now itself several years in the past, but that said, I believe I would like to be involved in this operation on the logistical side of things.  That is to say... we're going to need an Ambassador to the rest of the world, are we not?  I believe I would like to take on that role.  I would also be quite happy to assist Ms. Stormrift in operating her Bed and Breakfast, as I've had an idea for a teahouse attached thereto.

Also, I would like to throw my hat into the ring for the mayoral post, if there is no opposition to such?

[OldProfessorBear]

Are you aware of this thread:

http://brassgoggles.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,7476.0/topicseen.html

? And I believe there was another similar one not all that long ago.

Wondering if they should be merged.

[Isabella Stormrift]

Are you aware of this thread:

http://brassgoggles.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,7476.0/topicseen.html

? And I believe there was another similar one not all that long ago.

Wondering if they should be merged.

That thread had been mentioned previously in this one, but it is actually very different in our current outlook. They are looking at a self sufficient community, with much talk of green building, farming, and 'getting off the grid.' Our proposal is very different in the methodology with the whole tourist destination, etc. As a mod you'd be more qualified than I to determine what should or shouldn't be merged, obviously, but I just thought I'd point out some of the differences.

@Dr. Cross- I'd be happy to incorporate the tea room! I've also got a friend thinking about a possible bar/tavern type thing; trying to get him to create an account here to get in on the discussion.

[akumabito]

Assuming I'd be eligible for a visa to work and live in the US, I'm still in..

I'll be on my regular computer again tomorrow, and then I'll start to dig around for some more useful information to get thins organized. Even if nothing materializes, it's still good brain exercise and just plain fun to do..